AI may speed up search for drugs to treat brain conditions

Artificial intelligence is being deployed to rapidly identify existing drugs that could be repurposed to treat neurological diseases, aiming to deliver affordable treatments in years rather than decades [1]. Researchers at the UK Dementia Research Institute in Edinburgh are using algorithms to analyze patient data, including voice recordings and eye scans, alongside lab-grown brain cells to detect disease patterns and predict suitable medicines [1]. The approach targets a pool of approximately 1,500 drugs already developed and approved for other conditions, which could hold untapped potential for the brain [1]. This method of drug repurposing can be more straightforward than developing new compounds from scratch, a process that typically takes more than 10 years [1]. Clinical trials like MND-SMART are testing multiple drugs simultaneously on participants, including Steven Barrett, who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease a decade ago [1]. "MND is a horrible disease, it strips you of who you are," Barrett said, adding that his participation is about "delivering outcomes, that may or may not help me but help others" [1]. The institute is building a comprehensive database for conditions like Parkinson's and dementia, using AI to curate masses of data for early indicators of future problems [1]. The application of AI in healthcare is part of a broader technological shift. Artificial intelligence, defined by its capability to perform tasks associated with human intelligence like learning and problem-solving, is being used throughout industry and academia [2]. In the specific domain of health technology—the application of organized knowledge to solve health problems—AI represents a significant new tool [5]. This research aligns with other global efforts. Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have used generative AI to identify novel antibiotic compounds, while Harvard University researchers developed a neural network model called TxGNN to surface existing drugs for rare conditions [1]. However, the field has faced setbacks, such as recent reviews finding some once-hailed Alzheimer's drugs did not make a meaningful difference to patients despite slowing disease progression [1]. Despite challenges, Institute chief executive Prof Siddarthan Chandran believes "we're at the tipping point of change" in neurological research, driven by the combination of AI and new technologies [1].